Linux has also popped up previously in vehicles including Mavizen's award-winning . Then, too, there's the fact that car companies including both Toyota and Peugeot are using Linux as well.

7. Wikipedia, Google and More

If you've ever used Wikipedia, then you've benefited from Linux, at least indirectly. In fact, Wikipedia is now using Ubuntu after years on Red Hat and Fedora. Wondering about scalability? At Wikipedia Ubuntu now powers some 10 billion page views a month.

While we're on the subject of corporate applications, Google, Amazon, Cisco, IBM, the New York Stock Exchange and Virgin America are all renowned users of Linux, too.

8. One Laptop Per Child